Rolling support for writing instruments



Feb. 14, 1950 R, A, SCHROEDER, JR 2,497,418

ROLLING SUPPORT FOR WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed 00%. 29, 1945 l/ IlA/VENTOR I Ru sseu. A.SCH-ROEDJE TTORA/Ey Patented Feb. 14, 1950UNI-"TED STAT ES PAT EZNT OFFICE nonnme scream noa wm'rmc INSTRUMENTSRussell A. Schroeder, J r., St; Louis, Mo.

Application October- 29, 1945, Serial No;.-625,351.; 9. Claims. (Cl.120-1011):

This invention relates to improvements: in roll ing=. support for. a.writing instrument,.. and more particularly to devices for adj ustably;holding as pen. or pencil in such manner. that'the writing;

implement may be manipulated for: drawing or:

writing; solely by movements of theshoulder or arm muscles of. the user.

In many casesof personal injury;,spastic or other types of paralysis,manual. or" digital. im

iering irom'manual impairment onloss; and: it-"' is: accordingly ageneral. objective-of. the present improvements to provide. an improved;design of. writing aid; particularly, but not-zexclusively; for? theassistance of service men; and OIrh'GYSZllSiIIgT;

artificial hands orarms; in. recovering writingskills. This: objective.is: highly successfully at.-

tained by the-exemplifying structureehereinafter described.

A further important'object oii'the invention is' attained in a universalrolling supporttfor a writ-- ing instrument, which conduoes to aminimum: efiort of manipulation incident to both large? and small rangesof movement over the :writing sur face.

Yet another objective importantly attained in the present development,is theprovision for a. universal rocking movementof a pen or pencil withrespect to a horizontal subjacent support of the writing aid, and'insuch mannenasitoprovide what may be termeda' fullfioatingepen support.

An additional and important object isattained inta novel formofconnection: between a support and holding frame. for the writinginstrument-,. such: that. there is attained a selfrreleasing liftingaction of the. pen or..pencil. incident to re lease of; the slight.manual. writing pressure normallyemployed.

Yet another. object inthe designrofrthezpresenta.

interruptedzflush. surfacealong; the parting line assembly throughout,is thexuse-asiar as possible;

ofv readily obtainable. materials with; aminimum';

of processing and assembly. costs, such that. the; 1

device may be economically-produced; in reasons ablequantities andwithalowproporti'on of. labor:

cost; Onetfeature: of-this purpose-indesignzisate 'tained byutilization.for: example; of" azstandardi ball: bearing race,asa-universallrolling;support 65 for-the-writingraid, to facilitatemovements there? of in; any direction; and. with an almost total;

absence-of friction-at-rest:

Yet another valuable-objective of present im-- provements is: attained:in an improved adjustment. of-writing angle ofpen or pencil, thisadjustmentbeing of a; type such as to require no tools and: no carefulmanipulative movements, and such that the angle of pen or. pencilto'thepaper: may be easily and quickly changed at will.

The foregoing and numerous other objects of the invention will moreclearly. appear from the following. detailed description ofa presentlypreferred form of writingv aid, particularly when con-- sidered in.connection with. the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is anrisometricview showing the assembly in a-position of use;

Fig. 2 is: a somewhat enlargedsectional elevation, thesectionedportionsv ofthe structure. being taken along averticalmedian planethrough the. bore of. the body which receives the writing implement;

Fig, 3 1s .an. elevation, partly insection, showing.

the rolling, and. supportingv assembly of Fig.- 2,

and-as taken along line 3---3= of that figure;

Fig. 4.; is a. fragmentary sectional view taken along line. 4.-4 .ofFig. 2, and

Fig. ffisfa similar fragmentary sectional view taken alongline .5--5' ofFig. ,21.

Referring, now by characters of reference to the drawing, the.supporting body for a pen or pencil is generally indicated at I0. Bypreference so as to provide a relatively low center of gravityof. the.assembly and a relatively large base of support topreclude casualtipping, the body l0 isof a general so-called bullet shape, beingcharacteri'zed-by diminishing'horizontal sections from bottom totop. Itis conveniently formed as a H, substantiallysolid element constituting,in effect,

a frame for receiving the writing instrument.

By'further preference the body Hlis constructed by molding; say of athermoplastic or thermosetting materiaLior example, of a phenol-aldehydecomposition: As a. convenience in molding and'castingthebody Hitis.formed of two parts, a-lower' section-ll and'an'upper'section l2, thesebody'componentsbeing detachably assembled asby threading in an annularzone I3,,preferablyin such: manner as to leave. a substantially unltbetweenthe. sections:

Formed,as by suitable; or known coring pro tion; H: of. they body. Overthe. major portion of itsitotallength', theLdiameter. of this boresubstantially exceeds that. of; the writing instrument:designatedzbyfla. Asuitable shaping of. thebora:

I is indicated by Figs. 1 and 4. In an intermediate zone through whichthe part I5 of the bore merges withthe part IE thereof, the bore issomewhat more restricted, as shown by Fig. 5, so as to form a centralfulcrum for the writing instrument P. Directed into an upper portion ofbore I5 is a threaded passage i! for the reception of a set screw 20,preferably in the form of a wing screw, the wing head of which normallyextends into a surface depression 2| therefonnear the upper portion ofbody section I2. Similarly, extending laterally into portion I6 of thepen bore is a threaded passage 22 occupied by a wing screw 23, the headof which extends into a lateral body recess in section l! of the bodyframe. From the structure last-described, it will appear that thefulcrum portion indicated at 25, in the bore I5I 6, constitutes arocking center in such manner that by selectively threading up orunthreading the screws 25 and 23, the acute angularity of the writinginstrument P, relative to the writing surface WS, may be varied withinreasonable limits. Further, by slightly backing ofi both screws 20 andthe depth of insertion say of pencil or pen P, in the body It may bevaried to compensate, for example, for the usual wearing effect on apencil or the like.

Proceeding now to a description of the provision for rolling support ofthe body Iii, it is a preference not only for best results, but forsimplicity of assembly and for ease of service if ever required, toemploy a standard ball bearing race generally indicated at 3B andcomprising an annular ball retainer structure 3|. While the number ofballs or other rolling elements is distinctly optional within reasonablelimits, six thereof are shown and indicated at 32. A ball bearing racepossesses a distinct advantage in use, in that it is characterized bytotal absence of any initial directioning requirement or resistance,thus enabling a full universal movement of the assembly in the plane ofthe writing surface. Further, among the various types of rolling supportexperimentally utilized for the present purpose, this form of bearingexhibits a minimum starting friction, and in use, oifers no noticeableresistance even to very minor movements of the writing aid. Theadvantage in production incident to their ready availability in quantityand at low costs, of bearings of this type, will at once be appreciated.

The primary supporting effect of the bearing race in: -..ing theretainer, is imparted to the body it: through an arrangement now to bedescribed, and constituting a universally rockable or floatingconnection. Thus the vertical axis of the body Iii is enabled to berocked, within narrow limits, in any direction from the vertical, andwithout any tendency to assume any one displaced condition. Thus thedevice is highly sensitive to slight tilting pressures, as for purposesof shading as by rocking the writing implement about its own axis, or intilting it upwardly or downwardly.

This provision is effected by structure including a mounting annulus orwasher 33 which normally occupies a horizontal plane parallel to thewriting surface WS. Connection of the annulus 33 to the race 3!! is madethrough a plurality of evenly spaced ears, lugs or supports 34 which areconveniently welded or otherwise attached to the washer 33 at theirupper ends, and are attached as by'welding to the ball retainer 3| attheir re-- spective lower ends. if'deslred, as integral parts of thestock forming springs 36 are of light loading, and their lower ends abutthe upper surface of the annulus 33 The lugs may be formed i preferablywithout interlocking engagement therewith, so that the body and therolling support may be considered as journalled together, and easilyrelatively rotated.

Attachment of the parts last described to the body I 0 is preferablycarried out by the provision of a collar 3! threadedly engaging thelower perimeter or base portion of the body I ll, specifically'thesection Ii thereof, the zone of threading being indicated at 50. It willhave appeared that the lower portion of section I I is formed to providea circular sunken or undercut area, this countersunk portion beingindicated at 4|. From this it results that there is provided a definiteclearance between the top of the washer 33 and the circular surface ofportion til at the bottom of the body so that, as will now appear, therolling support assembly is cushioned against the bottom of the body toenable its universal rocking movement. Such movement is limited ofcourse by the spacing between the Washer and surface Experiments havedetermined that a spacing say of in this zone is highly satisfactory.

As to assembly of the rolling base structure to the body B, it will nowhave become obvious that,

upon inversion of the body and location of springs 35 in the sockets 35therefor, the rolling structure in inverted position is merely droppedinto place, the collar 37 is passed over the race and ing aid asexemplified by the structure described,

are thought to have become apparent from the foregoing description ofparts, but it may be noted that, considering a usual application of thedevice, most artificial arms are equipped with a pair of pivoted fingerelements which may be convergently and divergently actuated by the user.These finger elements can readily be separated a distance to enable theinsertion therebetween and hence a gripping action thereby, on the bodyelement ii] of the present device. A pen or pencil P having beeninserted in the bore I5I6, with the point say somewhat less than 1%"above the writing surface, the optimum angle of the writj ing instrumentis adjusted by means of screws 2%) and 23. Particularly in the case of apen, such as a fountain pen for example, the instrument P is rotatedabout its own axis in a manner to realize a normal presentation of thenib or point, to

the Writing surface. It should here be noted that the loading of springs3%, collectively considered, is such as normally barely to overcome theweight of the body and writing instrument supported thereby. From thisit results that, immediately the slight manual Writing pressure isremoved from the device, springs 36 will serve to lift the pen or pencilfrom the paper, thereby obviating any hazard of casual and unintendedmarkings thereon, due to inadvertent rolling action.

The manner ofmanipulationwill, now obvi-,,

ously, be dependent upon the nature of the written matter, legends,drawing, or other characters desired. It has been proved by a reasonableperiod of experimental hospital usage that but a short period oflearning is necessary to enable handicapped persons to becomepractically normally proficient, and that the device as described servesfully to attain each and all of the several objectives expressed in andimplied from the foregoing description.

Although the improvements have been described by making explicitreference to a presently preferred embodiment, the detail of descriptionis to be understood as illustrative, rather than in any restrictivesense, numerous changes being possible within the scope and intendedspirit of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for aid in writing, a body provided with means forholding a pen or pencil at an acute angle to a writing surface, and abody support consisting of an arrangement of spaced anti-friction,universally rotatable members normally in engagement with the writingsurface, and a retainer for the rotatable members attached as a unit to,and journalled on the body.

2. In a writing aid, a holder for a pen or pencil, a ball bearingsupport for the holder consisting of anti-friction balls and a retainedtherefor, and means by which the holder and retainer are connected topermit both relative rotation and rocking displacement.

3. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited by claim 2,but further characterized in that the holder is formed to present avertical axis and in which the holder is mounted on the ball retainer topermit a universal rocking movement of the holder inany direction, onthe retainer, while the balls of the retainer remain in contact with awriting surface.

4. In a device for aid in writing, a body constituting a holder for penor pencil, and provided with a substantially circular base area, aplurality of anti-friction balls, a retainer therefor, an annulusassembled to the retainer and a plurality of springs between the annulusand the base of the body, and further characterized by the addition of acollar threadedly related to the body and forming a holder for theannulus, whereby the collar serves to maintain the ball and retainerassembly assembled with the body.

5. In a device adapted for use as a writing aid, a body member, meanscoacting with the body member for clamping a pen or pencil inacuteangled relation to a writing surface therebeneath, a plurality ofball bearings for universal movement over a writing surface, a retainercoacting with the ball bearings to constitute therewith, a bearing race,a plurality of upstanding elements secured to the retainer, a normallyhorizontal washer secured to the upstanding elements and disposedsubstantially parallel to the writing surface, an attachment collarthreadedly engaging the body and forming therewith an internalperipheral groove in a lower portion of the body, adapted to receive thewasher, and of substantially greater depth than the thickness of thewasher, a plurality of coil springs, the body being provided with aplurality of sockets extended upwardly of its lower surface, there beingone socket for each of'said springs, the springs engaging the washerwhereby to provide for a universal 6 rocking movement of the body on thewasher, and hence with respect to the ball race and the writing surface.

6. In a device for aid in Writing, a body block characterized by aconvexly curved exterior surface and of diminishing, substantiallycircular sections from its base to the top of the block, the block beingprovided with an acute angled bore, portions of which are ofsubstantially greater sectional area than necessary to accommodate a penor pencil, the bore being formed with a fulcrum in its intermediateportion, and a pair of set screws adapted to extend at selectivedistances into the bore, and selectively manipulable, in coaction withsaid fulcrum, to vary the angle of pen or pencil in the body block, andmeans providing an anti-friction rolling support for the body block.

7. In a writing aid, a substantially solid body of substantially bulletshape, and provided witha large bore for a pen or pencil, and extendedat a distinctly acute angle to the writing surface, threaded clampingelements extended into the bore in spaced zones therealong, meansforming a fulcrum internally of the bore, and coasting with saidclamping elements to enable adjustment of angularity of the pen orpencil, and means providing a universally movable rolling support forthe body, the support being normally in engagement with the writingsurface therebelow.

8. In a writing aid, a body arranged for rolling movement over a writingsurface, and provided with a normally sloping bore for the reception ofa pen or pencil, the body being of a molded plastic construction andformed of two detachably connected sections, the bore being formed inand between the said sections with a part of said bore located in eachsection in such manner that, when the sections are assembled, they coactto form a continuous tabular cavity from one side to the other of thebody assembly.

9. In a writing aid adapter for use by disabled persons, a bodyconstituting a holder for a writing instrument, a rolling support forthe body comprised of a plurality of anti-friction balls and a ballretainer in which the balls are universally movable in any directionalong the plane of the writing surface, a plurality of coil compressionsprings, the body being provided with a series of sockets, one for eachof said springs, and means providing a horizontal surface on the ballretainer engaged by said springs, the retainer and body being freelyrotatable with respect to each other, and the body being susceptible ofuniversal rocking movement over the retainer and hence with respect to aplane writing surface engaged by the anti-friction balls.

RUSSELL A. SCI-IROEDER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 338,239 Wyche Mar. 16, 1886416,003 Logan Nov. 26, 1889 684,453 Muelberg Oct. 15, 1901 1,848,605Conway Mar. 8, 1932 2,245,116 Rhatigan June 10, 1941 2,362,992 DentzlerNov. 21, 1944

